Clarence Clemons R.I.P.

20/06/2011

When it comes to the lost art of the saxophone solo there’s one song that instantly springs to mind, and that’s the intro in the Gerry Rafferty classic ‘Baker Street’. For years the blower of those famed notes was rumoured to be Bob Holness, yes the Blockbuster presenter, when in truth it was a chap called Raphael Ravenscroft.

Another great sax player, and many would say the best Clarence Clemons, know for his superb work in Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band sadly passed away on Saturday and a huge flurry of tributes from every known musician have been pouring in. Via the Coldplay website, the Viva La Vida songster released a statement that said Clemons was their ‘favourite saxophone player’ and during U2’s gig at Anaheim’s Angel Stadium, Bono paid tribute saying ‘I want you to think about Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. I want you to think of Clarence Clemons. This man has carried music, and music carried him until this day’. Other fond words have come from the likes of Slash to Bryan Adams via Public Enemy.

Clarence Clemons died of complications from a stroke aged 69. Listen to a tribute to the great man below, now you know another sax player.